Martial Arts - Have you trained or not?

[Malletzky]

I have trained carate in my youth (I was 8-12 years old, one of the youngest brownbelt carrier back then) and even if I wanted to do the blackbelt grading (my coach said I was ready), I wasn't allowed to, as I wasn't 14 years old (don't ask me why, they told me this and I had to accept).

So I decided to quit and I almost became a professional football (soccer) player...

But, what left from these early years of training is really an astonishing body coordination, which helps me a lot thru my life...

malletzky

[Peace of mind]

I grew up learning Tai chi, boxing and some Capoeira. Tai Chi is my favorite, especially the discipline and the principles of oneness with nature. Hope I will never have to use what I learned in self defense.

Peace

[Firstlook]

The only Martial Arts training I had was when I was 12, in a Youth center program. I think it was only for a couple of months and nothing really serious. I do remember being told that it was for the benefit of all us angry kids. I think it was a good idea. But alot of the parents got mad at the councilors for teaching us to be better "fighters". Of course that wasn't really what it was about.

I'd like to get into it eventually. I need alot of stretching though.


peace

[lucrum]

To be honest, back when I was training Tae Kwon Do my trainer told us something that really stuck: "We do not train Tae Kwon Do to learn how to fight, we train it to learn how not to fight"

If I am to train any form of martial arts, I require the club to be of a non-violent nature. There have been a few Karate clubs around here that have been promoting a tough guy image and teaching fairly young kids all sorts of ways to injure another human being.

In my mind, first rule of fighting is avoiding the fight alltogether. Even running away is better than actually fighting, if at all possible. You avoid injuring someone or being injured yourself.

[Firstlook]

Originally Posted by lucrum

To be honest, back when I was training Tae Kwon Do my trainer told us something that really stuck: "We do not train Tae Kwon Do to learn how to fight, we train it to learn how not to fight"

If I am to train any form of martial arts, I require the club to be of a non-violent nature. There have been a few Karate clubs around here that have been promoting a tough guy image and teaching fairly young kids all sorts of ways to injure another human being.

In my mind, first rule of fighting is avoiding the fight alltogether. Even running away is better than actually fighting, if at all possible. You avoid injuring someone or being injured yourself.

Right. Thats the general Idea as far as I see it.


peace

[Mercuriel]

Yes - It is this fact - That You are an expert in the Martial Arts that You can or should be able to avoid most Violence...

The Art of Not-Fighting.

It is Not-Fighting as the Practitioner should be able to carry Himself/Herself in such a manner that a Confrontation is not necessary.

Those that Confront are Fighters - Not Martial Artists. They only start Fights because They have no way to deal with issues other than Violence or Intimidation.

Many of You already know this but the True Martial Artist is balanced and walks from a Fight as there is no need to Fight. They only Fight when provoked to do so and even then - They use the Attackers' own Strengths against Them by Defending from Blows the Attacker levies against Them.

It is like a Finger pointing its way to the Moon. Concentrate on the Finger and You will miss all the Heavenly Glory...

One must be as Water. Water Flows over everything. It is Gentle - It is soothing - It can erode Granite and is the most Fluid Force in the World. Be Water My Friend...

My Sifu used to say - "Fighters start Fights - Martial Artists end Them"...

[futureyes]

a few years of tae kwon do ... that was back when and i'm not certain i'd remember any of it now ...

well ... i guess if i was in a nasty predicament ... i'd probably remember some thing pretty darn quick if i had to

one thing i do remember are the same words you were told lucrum ...
"We do not train Tae Kwon Do to learn how to fight, we train it to learn how not to fight" ...

some words just never escape us ...

[Neo]

I did wing chun for a couple of years and was greatly inspired by the late, great bruce lee. Anyone read his book 'Tao of Jeet Kune Do'? He had a wonderful spiritual connection and philosophy to life, a very wise man indeed.

[Shaynard]

Originally Posted by Neo

I bruce lee. Anyone read his book 'Tao of Jeet Kune Do'?

I have several times to mention just one "connection". I agree with your conclusion on the Tao. ( I mentioned this book in an above post, as well as other "hints" towards that man )


~Be water my friend~

In jest: I was expecting you (Neo) to post.. "I know Kung Fu!" or "I'm gonna learn jujitsu?"..


In light, of love
Shaynard

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Shaynard

I have several times to mention just one "connection". I agree with your conclusion on the Tao. ( I mentioned this book in an above post, as well as other "hints" towards that man )


~Be water my friend~

In jest: I was expecting you (Neo) to post.. "I know Kung Fu!" or "I'm gonna learn jujitsu?"..


In light, of love
Shaynard

lol...... I was going to type that, not even thinking at the time about the matrix scene and yes, just saw your post. I am guilty of not ready them all first time round also agree with you, Jeet Kune Do is much more a philosophy rather than a rigid style. "Use no limitation as limitation and no way as way"

I had the privellige of being taught under William Cheung and also got to hear a little personal insight into his history with Bruce. Both are legends in my view.

[voltus]

taekwondo blackbelt and ninjitsu sensei

[DOMINIC 777]

Originally Posted by voltus

taekwando blackbelt and ninjitsu sensei

yes i did Tae Kwon Do and brown belt in japanese karate..1st kyu